Commuting Crisis Looms: Seoul City Requests Taxi Industry Support as Bus Strike Nears

Final Negotiations Between City Bus Labor and Management on the 27th
Ongoing Disagreements... Wage System Reform Remains Challenging
Seoul Mobilizes All Transportation Resources in Preparation for Prolonged Disruption
Official Request Sent to Taxi Industry: "Please Encourage Increased Operations"

The conflict between management and labor of Seoul city buses has intensified, making a large-scale commuting crisis appear imminent. Both sides intend to continue negotiations until the very end, but it is proving difficult to find common ground on wages and collective agreements. In preparation for a possible strike, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has also reached out to the taxi industry for assistance.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and other sources on May 27, the Seoul City Bus Labor Union will hold voluntary negotiations with the Bus Transportation Business Association at an undisclosed location. Previously, both parties attempted to negotiate over the past weekend but failed to reach an agreement.

The Seoul City Bus Labor Union will conduct voluntary negotiations with the Bus Transportation Business Association on the 27th. Both parties intend to negotiate until the very end, but it is difficult to find common ground on wages and collective agreements. The photo shows a bus garage in Eunpyeong District, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

This day's negotiations represent the last opportunity to prevent an "all-out city bus strike." Furthermore, unlike previous years, there is a possibility that the strike could expand to simultaneous walkouts in other local governments, which could significantly increase the impact on citizens.

The main issue is that the likelihood of reaching an agreement is low. Management and labor have been sharply divided over the issue of ordinary wages. The union is demanding that regular bonuses be included in ordinary wages and that wages be increased by up to 8.2%. The union argues that regular bonuses constitute ordinary wages according to the Labor Standards Act and Supreme Court rulings, and that both the employers and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have already acknowledged this.

However, management insists that if regular bonuses are included in ordinary wages and all of the union's demands for wage increases are accepted, the overall wage level would rise, necessitating a restructuring of the wage system to lower the level of ordinary wages. The Seoul Metropolitan Government, which operates a semi-public bus system, is also supporting the need for wage system reform.

With the chances of an agreement low, a strike is now seen as virtually inevitable. The union plans to launch a full-scale strike starting with the first buses on May 28 if a negotiated agreement is not reached by the end of the day.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is preparing for a strike that could last three days or longer. The city plans to mobilize all available transportation resources. Subway service will be increased by a total of 173 runs per day, and operating hours during morning and evening rush hours will be extended by one hour. The last train will also be adjusted to run until 2 a.m. the following day. Across the 25 districts, 625 free shuttle buses will be deployed on 117 routes connecting to subway stations. Depending on the strike participation rate, temporary bus routes will be operated flexibly. In addition, schools and public institutions will be asked to delay start times by about one hour during the strike period.

Ultimately, the city has also requested the taxi industry to increase operations during the bus strike. On the previous day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government sent official letters to the Seoul Private Taxi Transportation Association and the Seoul Taxi Transportation Association, asking them to encourage taxi operations during commuting hours in the event of a bus strike, to prevent a shortage of taxis. A Seoul city official stated, "Unlike last year, this year's strike could last two to three days and affect other local governments, so we will mobilize every possible measure to minimize inconvenience for citizens."